Mind Tricks: The Real Reason Things Hide In Plain Sight

Have you ever been watching something so intently that you're shocked to find out you missed something? Believe it or not, it happens. And a lot more often than you'd expect.

In the video above by DNews, host Sapna Parikh explains why we sometimes struggle to see things that are right in front of our very own eyes.

As Parikh says, in 1999 Harvard scientists first noted our brains have the ability to ignore images and actions while they are focused on something else.

To test their theory, the scientists told students to watch a basketball game and to pay attention to how many times the white team passed the ball. During the game a man in a gorilla costume came on to the court and beat his chest, but only half of the students saw him.

The scientists chalked it up to a condition called inattentional blindness, which basically means your brain is concentrating so hard it fails to see other things that may be occurring.

Watch the video above to learn more about how your mind manages to override your vision.

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Studies have shown that a quick glance at the color yellow can not only sharpen your concentration, it can also increase your happiness.

Not all fidgeting is bad -- in fact, it may help you during more complex projects. Some neurologists theorize that there are cognitive benefits to our extraneous movements. Fidgeting may allow the brain to process deep thoughts and create better mental functioning.

That mindless doodling may not be so mindless after all. According to research published in the journal Applied Cognitive Psychology, idly drawing during those important meetings or classes may actually help you pay better attention to what's going on. In the study, doodlers were able to retain more information than non-doodlers.

Those brief breaks, whether you're watching a cute animal video or grabbing a few minutes of shuteye, can do wonders for your focus. If you're elbows-deep in tasks and looking to tackle your to-do list, you might want to step away from it for a little while.

In our tech-crazed culture, it can be difficult to grab a few moments of total quiet -- but by powering down your surroundings, you could be doing your focus a favor. Total silence is also something creative types swear by -- just the trick you need when you're trying to be innovative at work.